Calendula Proof received a 4+ star review, making it an IndieReader Approved title.
Following find an interview with author Steve McManus.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
My latest book is called Calendula Proof, and it was published in December 2020. (Calendula is pronounced Ka-len-doo-la.)
What’s the book’s first line?
“No good! That’s what they’re up to!” old Mrs. Beckwith declared.
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
During the summer before sixth grade, a group of friends uncover a plot to rob a wealthy widow’s estate sale.
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
My daughter was the inspiration for it. She asked me to write a book for her, which was Calendula Cool, and her only complaint was that it wasn’t long enough. So I wrote Calendula Proof with a bigger plot in mind to hopefully check all of her boxes. Apparently I did, so I can sleep easy.
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
While labeled as a Young Adult novel, anyone middle school-aged or above will find something to love about this story, whether it’s the mystery, the laughter, the friendship, or the nostalgia. Neither completely light nor very dark, this book is the perfect mix for readers that want a fun yet heart-racing escape from reality. Those looking for adventure, mystery, eccentricity, characters that break gender stereotypes, or a break from endless technology should read Calendula Proof.
What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character? Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of?
While the setup borrows from Stephen King’s bands of bike-riding adventurers, or classic mysteries like Nancy Drew or the Hardy Boys, Calendula Proof owes a greater tonal debt to Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events; here, adults all have their own agendas and are more often obstacles than allies, while children struggle to be taken seriously and are forced to solve problems on their own.